Athlete gearing up for next big run after cardiac arrest

Nigel Baker taking part in last year's Kerikeri half marathon, shortly before a cardiac arrest that led to double bypass surgery.

About 15km into last November's Kerikeri half marathon, Nigel Baker was at a drink station waiting for friends to catch up.

It was his last real memory of the event as a couple of kilometres further down the road the 54-year-old builder and running enthusiast suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed.

But thanks to his fellow competitors, with some taking turns to perform CPR, and the speed at which the St John ambulance and Northland Rescue Helicopter arrived to get him to Auckland Hospital, his life was saved.

My cardiologist thinks I'm an idiot but you can't let these things get on top of you and stop you from living. I have to beat it ...

Nigel Baker

Now, less than nine months after his life-threatening ordeal, he's in training to finish this year's Kerikeri half marathon, and along the way raising money for the Northland Rescue Helicopter.

But not everybody is happy with his determination to 'finish the half'.

"My cardiologist thinks I'm an idiot but you can't let these things get on top of you and stop you from living. I have to beat it," Mr Baker said.

It was just 10 weeks after undergoing double bypass surgery that he got back up and running and he has slowly built up to be training three or four times a week.

"I'm more conscious of listening to my body, and I can't push it as hard as I once could, and I won't be able to complete the half marathon in the time I'd like, but I'm going to give it my best shot and then after that I might just stick to fishing."

Mr Baker, with no previous health issues, began running at 50 to get out and do something, but it turned into a passion with training six days a week and a series of marathons.

"I want to thank everyone involved for making sure I am here today, and for the Northland Rescue Helicopter and ambulance staff who got to me so quickly. That's why I want to do something that will help others if they find themselves in my position, he said of his fundraising efforts.

"You don't think you'll ever be the one who needs their services but without them there are many people who wouldn't be around today."

The Northland Rescue Helicopter has rescued 490 people this year, with the busy summer period to come, and the trust's chairman, Paul Ahlers, says generosity like Mr Baker's keeps its helicopters in the air.

"We do this for the Northland community, and the community giving back so generously also means we can provide them with the best rescue service possible and keep operating long into the future," he said.

The Kerikeri Half Marathon is on November 19 at Kerikeri Domain. Donate to Nigel Baker at givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/northlandrescuehelicopter

Mr Baker lives in Auckland, but owns property in Kerikeri and plans to retire there.